Land Girls honoured at Downing Street

The Land Girls who kept the country supplied with food and timber during the Second World War have been formally thanked by Gordon Brown - but he admitted their efforts should have been recognised earlier.

Former Land Girl Frida Feetham [centre] at a ceremony at 10 Downing Street for around fifty surviving members of the Women's Land and the Women's Timber CorpsPhoto: PA

5:26PM BST 23 Jul 2008

Fifty surviving members of the Women's Land Army (WLA) and the Women's Timber Corps (WTC) were invited to Downing Street to receive commemorative badges.

The Prime Minister, who thanked each of them individually, said: "We have been slow to thank you. We could have done this years ago but I'm pleased that we can do it now."

Mr Brown said the women were owed a huge debt of gratitude for their role in the war effort and said he hoped they would treasure the badge and certificate which they received.

"We hold a lot of events in Downing Street but there's none more special than to thank you," he said. "I want to thank you for everything you did in all areas of the country. We owe you a huge debt of gratitude."

He invited the visitors to look around the Cabinet Room before they left and joked: "Perhaps you'll be able to make some better decisions than we have been making this week."